During the past few months at Starlight Mansion, I have seen many people.
And those people relentlessly shattered my understanding and values about humanity.
The Duchess, the head of the Starlight family and Frey's mother. Her husband, Abraham, and Frey's sister, Aria.
And even the kind servants.
Except for a few servants, everyone was as kind as Frey.
To the point where I misunderstood that humans might actually be kind.
Of course, that misunderstanding was quickly dispelled when I accidentally went out to the streets with Frey and saw the true nature of the nobles.
Those bastards... I should have beaten them more.
Still, from that incident, I learned that Frey was in the highest class among humans. Even the Emperor of the humans couldn't treat his family lightly.
Anyway, despite seeing so many people, some left the strongest impression on my mind.
They were none other than Frey's friends.
Coincidentally, they were all 'female' friends.
"Y-Young Master. It's time for breakfast."
"Thank you!"
"If there's anything else you need..."
"It's fine. I'm satisfied as long as Kania is by my side."
Kania, the family's butler, was characterized by her black hair and suit.
She was a sly cat with a slightly shady side.
"... Still, could you please order me?"
"Huh?"
Since the day I hinted to Kania that Frey was sharing his life force with her, she has been blushing and trying to serve him excessively.
Well, since he saved her life and forgave her, it was somewhat understandable.
For now, it was still cute because she was young, but later on, it would obviously become an obsession.
She was a shady kid, after all.
Should I just stop the life-support research I'm doing with Frey?
"Frey! Today... Oh."
"...I-I feel an evil presence!"
Anyway, it was already surprising that Frey had the strongest warlock in history as his friend and butler, but even more remarkable beings appeared.
"That’s rude! Miss Ruby is my benefactor!"
"..."
The Third Princess of the Empire, Clana, and the Second Saintess, Ferloche.
Those two girls, who look exactly like the ones who harassed my father a thousand years ago, also showed deep affection for Frey.
"Frey... this place is uncomfortable. Let's go to the secret hideout and catch some fish..."
"Irina! Say hello! This is my benefactor, Ruby!"
"...Hick."
But the most shocking of all was the little mage named Irina, whom Frey brought to the mansion one day, claiming she was his childhood friend.
"D-D-D-D-D-Demon... And a pureblood..."
- Kid, be quiet.
"Eeeeekkk!"
I never imagined he would even befriend such a being. Just what was Frey's true identity?
- If you reveal my identity, I will reveal yours too, kid.
"...!"
- Behave yourself.
She tried to reveal my identity in front of the servants, so I silenced her with mental transmission.
- Y-you're a descendant of the Demon King, right?
"Hmm."
Seeing her instantly copying my telepathic magic, it seemed my guess was correct. They really were troublesome beings.
"Ruby...! When I grow up, I want to marry Ruby!"
"Hmm..."
Anyway, among all the people I met, Irina was the most unexpected, but the most troublesome person was someone else.
"Don't talk nonsense..."
"You...?"
It was none other than...
"What did you just say...?"
"...Serena? Are you visiting again today?"
It was Serena, who, after witnessing him sticking close to me a few days ago, began to occasionally monitor both me and him.
.
.
.
.
.
"If I didn't mishear, you definitely said..."
"I will marry Ruby when I grow up!"
"...!"
Serena, who had been pressuring Frey with a gloomy expression, looked dumbfounded at Frey's cheerful words.
I had figured out the type of girl Serena was from the beginning.
A typical black-hearted schemer and strategist.
In the Starlight Mansion, where it seemed all the good people of the Empire gathered, she was the only type I felt I understood the most.
“Y-You can’t do that!”
"Why?"
"Y-You have to marry me!"
And seeing such a dark-hearted girl being swayed by an innocent kitten was quite a rare sight.
"Do you not like me?"
"No! I like Serena too!"
"Who is your fiancée?"
"It's Serena!"
"So, you have to marry me, right? Marrying someone else would be cowardly, you know?"
"...Huh."
Frey, who had been cuddling up to me as usual, opened his mouth in shock at those words.
Maybe his parents hadn't explained it to him in detail because he was still young. Or was it because the engagement was politically motivated?
In any case, it was clear that he was too young to get engaged or even understand it properly.
"And Ruby doesn't like your actions either."
"D-Does she dislikes it?"
But, that was just Frey's perspective.
Serena, who was glaring at me with her face partially covered by a fan, clearly understood what an engagement meant and seemed to be sincere about it.
This brat seemed to have good fortune with women.
"Yes! I've been stalkin– I mean, observing for a few days now, and Ruby keeps saying she doesn't like it."
"U-Ugh..."
But why am I starting to get a bit heated at those words?
It was not like I liked Frey or anything, and it has nothing to do with me anyway...
"Showing affection to someone who dislikes it is bad. So apologize quickly."
"...S-Sorry, Ruby. I-I didn't know."
Pressed by Serena, Frey looked at me apologetically and bowed his head in apology.
"Hmm."
Somehow, this situation seemed to be getting weird.
"I-I won't do it again. S-So don't leave me, okay?"
W-Well, this was how it should be. I hate humans.
If I keep getting attached to him, it might derail my original plan.
"So, now come to me. You can show affection to me as much as you want. I like Frey."
"...Okay!"
So this should be right...
- Swoosh, swoosh...
"Hahaha."
But why did it make me so angry to see Frey clinging to that cunning little girl and rubbing his cheek against her?
It was like watching a stray cat I tamed cozy up to someone else.
It was definitely not jealousy, it wasn’t that kind of petty emotion.
- If I take Frey and run away, can you stop me?
But it was also enough to provoke such a childish challenge with mental transmission out of spite from me.
"You..."
“..."
- Beep beep! Beep beep!
"Huh."
As I was engaged in this childish staring contest with the girl who dared to steal my kitten, suddenly a communication crystal in her pocket started to ring.
"U-Ugh..."
"Serena?"
Serena's face turned pale, and she began to panic. Meanwhile, Frey, who had been rubbing his cheek against hers, started to look puzzled.
"F-Frey, I think I need to go now..."
"All of a sudden?"
"Y-Yes. Something urgent came up..."
Serena said this with an anxious expression on her face.
"I-I'll be back soon. So..."
- Beep beep beep beep!
"S-See you later!"
Trying to maintain a composed expression, Serena hurriedly ran out of the room as the communication crystal in her pocket rang loudly.
"U-ugh..."
Listening closely, I could hear her pained groans.
I could feel it... a cold aura emanated from her; perhaps she had been cursed?
"Hey, Ruby. Can I ask you a favor?"
"Hmm?"
I was pouting, thinking she deserved it.
But, as soon as Serena left, Frey's expression turned cold, and he whispered to me.
"I want to save Serena."
"..."
Those were the words that came out of his mouth.
Once again, he was doing something foolish with a serious expression.
"I'll do anything you want, just this once, won't you lend me your strength...?"
"No."
This time, I really didn't want to get involved.
"I-I'll let you kill me later! Just until I can drink with my dad–"
"I said no."
That time was just out of curiosity.
"T-This is a draw! I almost won, but I'll let it be a tie just this once!"
It was obvious who actually won, but since Serena was on the verge of tears, I let it be a tie.
Anyway, I didn't have any particular feelings for him, so it didn't matter to me.
"Really? Can I rub my cheeks with you again? Hehe, thanks! Rubyyy!"
"E-Eek..."
Of course, I only allowed Frey to get close to me to annoy the pretentious Serena.
Probably.
When would my true body be able to move again? I needed to fully replenish the lifespan of my self-proclaimed first friend.
"Today's bet is a cooking competition!"
"L-Let's all practice cooking more. Today's bet will be a sewing contest!"
"Today's bet is..."
After that, time passed quite quickly.
I engaged in these ‘bets’ with the cunning Serena out of mere ‘curiosity’.
"W-Who... are you really?"
"Ruby is so strong! Even Isolet lost!"
"N-no, I'm still... Geuhh."
Under the guise of sparring, I had a workout with a suspicious-looking female knight named Isolet, who seemed to have an odd glint in her eye.
I later learned she was Frey's older sister next door, but her eyes seemed suspicious no matter how I looked at them. She might need further observation.
"W-Who... are you...?"
"I'm just curious. It's rare to find good parents these days."
In addition, I spent my time enjoying a variety of pastimes, such as rescuing Frey's friend Clana’s mother for fun, and ‘scolding’ members of the Church who kept wandering around when they sensed my energy.
"Rubyy! This is really, really delicious!"
"For someone who likes wheat bread, you sure enjoy that."
"You're one to talk, liking rye bread."
Like eating ice cream with Frey.
"Look, Rubyy! It's a love story between the Demon King and the Hero!"
"..."
"Shall we go see it?"
"Y-yes. Let's do that."
Like going to the theater with Frey.
"Don't move! Hand over everything you've got!"
"...That's what happened."
"W-What? Frey...?"
Sometimes I even invaded Irina's secret hideout.
"Lady Saintess! I have someone I like, but I don't know what to do..."
"W-W-Who is it? Just whisper it to me..."
- Twitch, twitch...
"...Just kidding!"
"Oh, come on. That’s too much!"
... This cheeky brat.
Or I would eavesdrop on Frey's confessions when he intruded into Ferloche's confessional booth.
"Ruby, it's already been a year since we met..."
"Whatever."
"Thank you, Ruby. My mom is all better now, Serena and Clana are looking so much happier these days. It's all thanks to you."
"... Let go of my hand."
"I really, really like you, Ruby."
"... Ugh."
We would sometimes quietly look up at the night sky, holding hands.
But that was just for fun. I didn't consider it as a memory.
"... Time really flies, doesn't it?"
Time passed, and before I knew it, the unforgettable day had arrived.
"Indeed, Ruby."
"The kid has grown a lot."
Frey, who used to follow me around and call me with a cute voice, was now old enough to attend an educational institution called Sunrise Academy.
Although to me, a demon, he still looked like a cute little kitten.
It's time to go.
That was from my perspective as a demon with a dull sense of time. From a human's perspective, it was clear a lot of time had passed.
Yes, it was time for me to leave.
When the little kitten left with Serena and his friends to the academy, there would be no reason for me to stay at the mansion any longer.
- Burn the world...
"Tch."
And lately, that voice has been getting worse. Leaving this brat’s side seemed like the right thing to do.
But what should I do once I leave here?
Well, first...
"Frey, I have something to–"
"Ruby, I have something to tell you."
I was about to say my goodbyes when Frey interrupted me.
How insolent. A human daring to interrupt this noble...
"Come to the academy with me."
"...Huh?"
As I was about to get angry, I frowned as Frey grabbed my shoulder with a serious expression I hadn't seen in a long time.
"...No."
"If you don't come, I'm not going to the academy."
"Do as you please, I'm leaving."
"You're my maid though, who said you could?"
"... Sigh, and how do you plan to enroll someone without status?"
I answered curtly, and Frey, looking pitiful, pressed his cheek to mine and began whispering.
"I still like you, Ruby."
"...!"
My pupils dilated upon hearing that.
"So, become my servant."
- Thump, thump...!
At the same time, my heart began to race wildly.
This is a sickness.
It had to be a sickness. I am a demon who can control my heartbeat at will.
Why is my heart beating uncontrollably?
Could this be...
No, I'm a demon. I can't feel such emotions...
"If you leave, I'll send people to track you. I can do that now."
"How dare you. A mere human..."
His playful whispers continued to invade my ears. I tried to scold him as usual, but my voice grew softer and softer.
"Let's get along at the academy too, okay?"
What a strange thing.
Since when did the little kitten turn into a wolf?
"Huh?"
"..."
At this rate, I might get devoured.
.
.
.
.
.
A few minutes later, Ruby was left alone in her room.
"Caw! Caw!"
"...You’ve come. If you have something to say, speak in human language."
When a crow landed noisily on her window sill, Ruby, who had been staring blankly, slowly opened her mouth.
"Lord Demon King, did you deliver your farewell message? You should now join the Demon King's Army."
"..."
"Everyone is eagerly waiting for you! If you join us, we can conquer the world immediately..."
"...I’m going to the academy."
"What!?"
The crow, who had been chattering excitedly, widened its eyes in surprise at Ruby’s words.
"Why on earth? The dissatisfaction within the Demon King’s Army is growing..."
"Hmph, and that's why you all fail. This is all part of my evil plan."
Ruby, who had slightly flinched at first, soon began to speak with a wicked smile.
"I've already practically secured two of the three greatest duchies of the Empire. And I have connections with the Saintess, the Third Princess, and that little wizard."
"..."
"If I go to the academy and expand my network further? I can gain control over half the Empire without even fighting! It’s the ultimate..."
"But can’t you defeat the Empire and everything else with just a flick of your finger?"
Ruby fell silent at those words.
"Honestly, just admit it. You're interested in that boy–"
"How dare you!"
"Well, anyone can see it... and that thing about the main wife competition or whatever. Even if you deny it, you've been grinding your teeth for years to keep it a tie with that purple haired girl..."
"I said no!"
Ruby shouted and then got up, striding across the room.
"... What are you doing now?"
"Packing. I need to prepare Frey's clothes."
"Why?"
"I'm his maid, aren’t I?"
"Haaah, really."
Hearing this, the crow sighed deeply, shook its head, and flew out.
"Toothbrush, check. He likes white and silver clothes, so extra outfits are a must. And underwear... ugh, hmm."
Ignoring the crow, Ruby began packing Frey's belongings without anyone asking her to.
"...Ruby."
Reality Frey, who had been watching her the whole time, was now kneeling in front of her, tears streaming down his face.
"This was an unforgettable memory... but why..."
- S-Should I not pack the rye bread?
"Why on earth did I forget this...?"
- But he’s been eating it often lately...
"I'm sorry... Ruby..."
Unlike the little him who had just left the room, his hand merely passed through Ruby, stirring the empty air.